NASA Welcomes Croatia as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory

The Republic of Croatia became the 74th signatory to the Artemis Accords on Wednesday during a ceremony in Zagreb, with NASA and U.S. Department of State officials present. Croatia’s Minister of Science, Education, and Youth Radovan Fuchs signed on behalf of the country, while U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nicole McGraw and Gregory Mann, NASA Europe representative, attended the event.

NASA Deputy Matt Anderson said in pre-recorded remarks that it was his privilege to welcome Croatia as the latest signatory, adding that joining the Accords opens another chapter: the countries have aligned on the principles, the opportunities to contribute are growing, and the United States and Croatia can now look toward what they can accomplish together beyond Earth. Fuchs said Croatian scientists and companies are demonstrating growing interest in the space industry, so Croatia decided to expand international cooperation by joining the Accords, which he described as a key opportunity for the robust development of Croatia’s scientific community, the introduction of new technologies, and the strengthening of the economy.

Croatia marked a major milestone with the successful launch of its first satellite, CroCube, on Dec. 21, 2024. The satellite reached orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, highlighting Croatia’s growing technological capabilities and interest in space collaboration. NASA and the State Department joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords in 2020, responding to growing interest in lunar activities by both governments and private companies.

The Artemis Accords are the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing transparency, safety, and coordination among like-minded nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. They commit nations to explore peaceably and transparently, render aid to those in need, enable access to scientific data, ensure activities do not interfere with those of others, and preserve historically significant sites and artifacts by developing best practices. By signing, nations open the door to opportunities for future lunar exploration with NASA, advancing humanity’s return to the Moon and shaping the Golden Age of space exploration and innovation. More information is available at https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords.